Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1887-04-01
OLYMPIA. FRIDAY EVENING, APR. I, 1857.
The Mugwumpian Policy.

The Mugwumpian Policy.
The question is frequently asked the
STANDARD, "Why is it that so many
Republican subordinates are retained
in Office by Federal officers appointed
in this Territory" The only answer
to the question that possesses the least
claim to consideration is that men
who have become accustomed to the
routine of duty, especially in clerical
positions, perform better service to the
public than those without that exper-
fence. Granting that this is true, is it
of sufficient importance to justify a
+ rpetual retention Of a class, who,
when the Republicans came into
power, took the place of better men
measured by the same rule, when the
people have in the most solemn and
deliberate manner declared in favor OF
a change? Will not the admission OF
this rule carry with it the recognition
a life tenure, in conflict with the ele-
mentary principle of popular govern
ment that supervision of all public
duty shall be entrusted to those in
sympathy with the will Of the people?
1t is very generally admitted that
there is work connected with many of
the important offices that justities the
retention of those performing discre-
tionary duties a sufficient length OF
time for the new incumbent to become
familiar with its practical operations
in detail; but to assume that the civil
service requires a permanent appoint
ment of these hitherto in many cases
perniciously active partisans, to the
exclusion of friends of the Administra.
ton, is to virtually admit that the of.
fetal head lacks the brains to compre.
bend the duties incumbent upon it OF
the physical energy to master the de.
tails by a proper degree of application
If Federal officers make themselves
masters of their duties, there will be nc
serious impairment of the public ser
vice by placing in charge avowed
friends of Democratic principles, in
stead of covert enemies reduced to a
condition of innOcuous desuetude by
a steady flow of pap sweetened to taste
by Democratic "sugar."
If the fact that the old Republican
clerks in the Land Offices, in the Post
Offices and the Clerks of the Courts oil
the Territory are already familiar with
the details of the Business is good
and sufficient reason why they should
be retained in Office by the new APP
pointees, why was it not an equally
sound reason why the old Repub-
lican Surveyor-Generals, Registers and
Receivers, Postmasters and Judges,
who had been in Office for from four to
twelve years, and were, therefore, ia
miliar with the duties of their Offices
should also have been retained in
their places? Is it more important
that the subordinate rather than the
head should have an actual experience
of the duties of his Office? Do the
clerks, or the chiefs, run the business
of the Government? In other words,
under the present Administration,
does the tail wag the dog or the dog
wag the tail? Echo answers, "Wag
the tail"
A much more aggravated phase Of
this Mugwumpian policy is afforded
by the appointment of Republicans to
subordinate positions that become va
cant. There is no excuse for this, even
if the wires pulled that actuate the
official automatons do end in the U. s.
Senate chamber or the Office of some
Cabinet Minister. 1t is wrong, and q
wrong perpetrated by those high in
authority becomes no less a wrong on
that account. The people would sus.
tain public officer who would repel
any such dictation, and thus give some
assurance that Washington Territory
has ceased to be the political poor.
house it became under Republican
rule.
These are some of the things which
lifelong Democrats condemn. They
expect the STANDARD to give voice te
their feelings; but after a quarter of g
century's support Of Democratic ideas
it finds the task very difficult of draw
ing strict line of political duty fol
those in whom it has been accustomed
to place implicit trust. 1t seems like
turning the guns on our own friends
but if they set their tents in the cam1
of the enemy, they have probably no
body but themselves to blame, if 6
stray shot knocks the ridge-pole out O
line. 1t is the enemy We are after
and the aim is sighted not alone by
the STANDARD but by the veterans O
many warmly contested campaign.
WHAT is the length of time from
the creation to the birth of Christ
Some authorities give it as 40O4, but il
is said the Sphinx was chiseled out o